Arkansas evens series with Missions

By John Whisler :
September 11, 2013
: Updated: September 11, 2013 11:39pm

San Antonio Missions catcher Rocky Gale looks a runner back to first after tagging out Robbie Widlansky of the Arkansas Travelers during a rundown in Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

Jake Blackwood of the San Antonio Missions is caught in a rundown by catcher Carlos Ramirez of the Arkansas Travelers during Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

Yeison Asencio of the San Antonio Missions slides in safely with a double to start the bottom of the fifth inning as Taylor Lindsey of the Arkansas Travelers receives a throw during Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. Asencio was unable to score in the inning.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

Eddie Bonine of the San Antonio Missions bears down against the Arkansas Travelers during Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

Arkansas Travelers' second baseman Taylor Lindsey turns a double play as Yeison Asencio of the San Antonio Missions approaches second base during Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Missions third baseman Jake Blackwood throws to first during Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series against Arkansas at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

Jake Blackwood of the San Antonio Missions reacts after striking out for the final out of the team's 1-0 loss to the Arkansas Travelers during Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. Arkansas catcher Carlos Ramirez celebrates.

Photo By Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

Fans watch San Antonio Missions starting pitcher Eddie Bonine warm up before Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series against Arkansas at Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013.

The law of averages caught up to the Missions on Wednesday night. So did their offensive woes.

Arkansas won for the first time at Wolff Stadium this season, getting a run in the second inning and making it stand up in a 1-0 victory before 3,538 to even their best-of-5 Texas League Championship Series at a game apiece.

Randal Grichuk drove in Travis Witherspoon with a two-out single, providing Travelers starter Michael Roth and two relievers with the only run they would need.

It was the first victory in eight games at the Wolff this season for Arkansas. The series now shifts to Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock for the final three games.

First pitch for Game 3 is 7:10 p.m. Friday.

The Missions won the series opener 1-0 on Tuesday, also with a second-inning run.

“This is going to be a low-scoring series,” Missions manger Rich Dauer said. “You've got two big ball parks and two great pitching staffs.”

But the Missions' offense continues to struggle. They now have had just four hits in each of the first two games.

Roth, a left-hander who was 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA in 15 games for the Los Angeles Angels this season, walked one and struck two in seven innings. He worked out of jams in the second and again in the seventh with the aid of the Travelers' defense.

Blackwood ran through the stop sign of Dauer, also the third-base coach, and was tagged out in a rundown.

“I thought the (hit by Hedges) was more down the line than it was,” Blackwood explained. “I had my head down and all I heard as I rounded the bag was, 'Stay here, stay here.' That's not easy to do when you're going full speed.”